New UC STEM program connects, empowers Cincinnati youth

The Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement at the University of Cincinnati engages hundreds of local K-12 students through STEM outreach events each year, collaborating with many Cincinnati-area schools that have a very high population of underrepresented minorities and women interested in engineering. 

Many students ask how to learn more after the outreach events, such as robotics competitions, annual Quiz Bowls, school visits and summer programs like the Family Engineering Academy, Women of Color Summer Engineering camp  and the new CPS Strong physics course.

To keep the momentum going, the office launched a new program this fall: Inspiring the Next Scholars to Practice Innovation, Research and Engineering (INSPIRE). 

INSPIRE offers free monthly drop-in virtual workshops for students to explore engineering and science.

The program's name captures the essence of its goal: to provide accessible ways for 9th through 12th grade students from CPS and surrounding schools and to explore STEM and find inspiration for future careers. 

“We expect young people to make some big decisions as they enter college. If you don't have access to adequate information, then you're not going to make informed choices,"  said Don Wittrock, program coordinator for Community Engagement in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science.

The program emphasizes curiosity and exploration because many INSPIRE students have not been exposed to STEM enough to know it may interest them. Some may have never been encouraged to do so. Many do not have resources to explore, don’t know any adults who are engineers or scientists or know how or where to reach out for guidance.

All of which could result in missed opportunities to discover and blend their passions in ways that open their minds to more career paths.

“This is a no cost, no commitment opportunity. We're not giving a math test or asking you to learn how to code,” Wittrock said. “This is an invitation to learn firsthand about engineering, do some fun activities and see if this is something you would like to do in the future.”

INSPIRE participants have already started to form bonds over their common interests, creating a cohort of like-minded teens. Several students requested the recording of a workshop they missed due to sport practice. One teacher hosted a watch party for three of their students because they didn't have devices.

The office plans to broaden the scope of programming and outreach with the help of student volunteers from the across the college, who facilitate activities and serve as mentors.  Organizations that co-host workshops showcase life as a UC student and the wide array of opportunities and support networks on campus and beyond.

The UC student chapter of the American Society of Engineering Education led the first INSPIRE workshop. Future collaborations with student organizations like the college Tribunal, and UC chapters of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers are in the works.

“Now more than ever young people want to make change and have a positive impact on the world and their community,” said Wittrock. “Engineering is a way to do that, but sometimes we don't always think of it that way.” 

The program is already opening good conversations. For example, a high school senior involved in INSPIRE who had expressed strong interest in studying chemical engineering at UC had recently started to consider majoring in music. 

Wittrock connected him with two UC students who shared how they balance a passion for music with their love for engineering: a chemical engineering student who is also vocal artist and an electrical engineering and computer engineering student who is in the UC marching band and interested in music production and audio engineering.

“This INSPIRE student had never thought about engineering that way before,” said Wittrock. “It was a great fit, so he can make a choice that he felt would be right for him and his talents.”

For more information, contact Don Wittrock, Program Coordinator for Community Engagement.

Featured image at top: lightbulbs. Photo/Anthony Indraus/Unsplash.